School Members Pressure Kid’s Marathon To Boot Chick-Fil-A Sponsorship For ‘Hateful Beliefs’

1:57 PM 10/19/2018 | Education

Neetu Chandak | Education and Politics Reporter

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The Pittsburgh school board and city council members are pressuring a marathon organizer to boot sponsorship from Chick-fil-A for the organization’s alleged “hateful beliefs.”

“The leadership of Chick-Fil-A has openly and passionately promulgated hateful beliefs against the LGBTQIA+ community,” a Wednesday letter signed by nine council members read, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Thursday. “Additionally, the company has financed organizations staunchly opposed to same-sex marriage and non-discrimination laws and other groups that equate ‘homosexual behavior and lifestyle’ with lawfulness and in opposition to the ‘foundation of the family and the basic structure of human society.”

The sponsorship announcement was met with a petition, started by Pittsburgh Marathon CEO Patrice Matamoros. The petition has 1,171 signatures as of Friday.

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“This is really about the children and about sending the message to the children of Pittsburgh, and really to everyone, that Pittsburgh, as far as city council is concerned, is welcoming and inclusive for everyone,” council member Erika Strasburg said, according to the Post-Gazette.

The Pittsburgh Public Schools board will vote later in October on a resolution that would withhold district support for the race, the Post-Gazette reported. District support would be withheld if the resolution passes. The board will prohibit schools and district employees from participating in “an official capacity” in the Kids Marathon if the resolution does not pass.

“Our intent with this partnership, along with all of our partnerships, is to further expand all of our events and programming ― including the Pittsburgh Kids Marathon and Kids of STEEL,” a P3R statement said, according to the Post-Gazette. “This partnership with Chick-fil-A Pittsburgh will help us ensure even more children in southwestern Pennsylvania can learn and share in our love of running.”

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